parallel algorithm for gpu processing; for use in high speed machine vision sensing of cotton lint trashgpu处理并行算法;.pdf

Sensors 2008, 8, 817-829 sensors ISSN 1424-8220 © 2008 by MDPI /sensors Full Research Paper Parallel Algorithm for GPU Processing; for use in High Speed Machine Vision Sensing of Cotton Lint Trash Mathew G. Pelletier United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services, Lubbock Tx. USA E-mail: mpelletier@ Received: 30 October 2007 / Accepted: 31 January 2008 / Published: 8 February 2008 Abstract: One of the main hurdles standing in the way of optimal cleaning of cotton lint is the lack of sensing systems that can react fast enough to provide the control system with real-time information as to the level of trash contamination of the cotton lint. This research examines the use of programmable graphic processing units (GPU) as an alternative to the PC’s traditional use of the central processing unit (CPU). The use of the GPU, as an alternative computation platform, allowed for the machine vision system to gain a significant improvement in processing time. By improving the processing time, this research seeks to address the lack of availability of rapid trash sensing systems and thus alleviate a situation in which the current systems view the cotton lint either well before, or after, the cotton is cleaned. This extended lag/lead time that is currently imposed on the cotton trash cleaning control systems, is what is responsible for system operators utilizing a very large